Devices for dispensing articles from a stack of articles

ABSTRACT

A device for dispensing articles comprises a vertical chute for a stack of articles. The chute is closed from below by a pivotal element which supports the stack. An arrester element is slidable along a slot in the wall of the chute and engages the uppermost article of the stack. When all the articles have been discharged, the head pivots to lock the element in its closed position.

I United States Patent 1 1 1 1 3,797,698

Hemard Mar. 19, 1974 DEVICES FOR DISPENSING ARTICLES [56] ReferencesCited FROM A STACK OF ARTICLES UNITED STATES PATENTS [75] Inventor:Jean-Hemard, Paris, France 2,696.324 12/1954 Jones 221/20 73 A S t P d,P F 1 'sslgnee 0cm ans fame Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Flledl1973 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Brooks, Haidt & Haffner [21] Appl. No.:329,443

[57] ABSTRACT A device for dispensing articles comprises a vertical 30 FA I t P t 1 orugn pp "on y Data chute for a stack of articles. The chuteis closed from Feb. 22. 1972 France 720597) Y below y a pivotal elementwhich pp the Stack An arrester element is slidable along a slot inthewall of the chute and engages the uppermost article of the I I n s v n sI e 1 s t u v n n s i i s l s I i t I W h b d [58] Field of Search 221/94, 151, 152, 268, s the amcles ave lscharged the head pivots to lockthe element in its closed position.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAR 19 m4 SHEET 1 [1F 3 PATENTEU MARl 9 I974 SHEET 2 [1F 3 DEVICES FOR DISPENSING ARTICLES FROM A STACK OFARTICLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention Thepresent invention relates to devices for dispensing articles. I

2. Description of the Prior Art A device for delivering pre-packedarticles from a vertical stack within a vertical chute has been proposedin which the chute is adjustable at least in width relative to the widthof the articles, and the articles are fed downwardly toward an outletclosable by means of a bottom element pivoting downwardly about an axisextending in the direction of a lateral edge of the articles. The bottomelement is upwardly directed along the pivot axis such that when theelement is in its closed position, the lowermost article of the stack isoffset slightly relative to the penultimate article. When the bottomelement is pivoted, the upwardly direction portion of the lattersupports the penultimate article of the stack, whilst an arresterelement slides in the chute to prevent the remainder of the articlesfrom tumbling over the edge or bearing surface constituted by theupwardly directed portion of the bottom element.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there isprovided in a device for dispensing articles a vertical chute for astack of articles, said chute including a slot, a pivotal bottom closureelement, said element having an upeardly directed portion supporting thepenultimate article of the stack during discharge of the lowermostarticle of the stack, and arrester head means, said arrester head meansresting on the uppermost article of the stack and comprising a slidemember movable along the slot, and a pivotal element for locking theclosure element, said pivotal element being carried by the slide memberand normally resting on theuppermost article of the stack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS arrester head during the course of thedispensing operation;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the arrester head; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section showing the lower portionof the device and showing the arrester head at the end of the dispensingoperation.

DESCRIPTION or THE PREFERRED MBO IME FIG. 1 shows a vertical chute 1 ofrectangular section, containing a stack of articlessuch as 2a, 2b, 2c,for example in the form of packages.

The article 2c, being the lowermost article of the stack, rests on abottom wall or closure element 3 of the chute, the wall being pivotablymounted about a shaft 4 directed along a lateral edge of the articles.The wall 3 is biased into the horizontal position shown by a spring (notshown). The edge of the wall 3 adjacent to the shaft 4 is directedupwardly to form a doublethickness front wall portion 5.

At the front of the chute 1, a slot 6 is provided, in which engages aslide member 7 of an arrester head 8, which rests on the article 2alocated at the top of the stack (FIGS. 1 and 2). The member 7 isL-shaped and is provided on one of its arms with two grooves 9, 9a whichengage the edges of the slot 6.

On the slide member 7, substantially in its median portion, a lockingelement 11 is mounted pivotably about a shaft 10. The element is in theform of a plate and has an upwardly directed edge portion 12 oppositethe shaft 10. The locking element 11 is so mounted on the sliding member7, that it can rest against an arm 13 of the slide member 7.

On its median portion, the locking element 11 has two hooks 14, 14a,adapted to project through an opening 15 provided in a vertical arm ofthe slide member 7 when the locking element is tilted back afterpivoting in the direction of arrow A, as indicated in FIG. 2.

At the beginning of the dispensing operation, as indicated in FIG. 1,the slide member 7 is engaged in the slot 6 of the chute 1, and thelocking element 11 rest horizontally on the uppermost item 2a of thestack.

As the articles 2c, 2b are dispensed, the upper level of the stack islowered together with the slide member 7, and the upper edge 16 of thevertical walls 17, 17a defining the slot 6 engage an edge 18 of thelocking ele' ment 11, which edge extends in front of the shaft 10 andcauses the locking element 11 to pivot in the direction of the arrow Aabout the shaft 10. As a result, the locking element 11 assumes avertical position, as indicated in FIG. 2, and its edge portion 12engages the uppermost article 2a which then occupies a lower position inthe chute 1.

During the pivoting of the locking element 11, the books 14, 14a extendthrough the opening 15 of the slide member 7.

When the last article 2a has been dispensed and the chute l is empty(FIG. 4), the locking element 11 is located behind the wall portion 5 ofthe wall 3 and the hooks 14, 14a engage on a panel 19 provided in theregion of the slot 6 of the chute 1. In this manner, by

means of the locking element 11, the bottom wall 3 is prevented frompivoting about the shaft 4 since the locking element 11 bears both onthe panel 19 by means of its hooks 14, 14a and on the vertical walls 17,17a withits edge 18, which prevents it from pivoting about the shaft 10.

The arrester head particularly described permits maximum filling of thechute.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for dispensing articles having walls forming a verticalchute for receiving a stack of articles to be dispensed from the bottomportion of said chute, the combination therewith of a bottom closureelement pivotally mounted at the bottom portion of said chute, saidclosure element having a first portion extending into said chute forengaging and restraining the lowermost of said articles and having asecond portion extending upwardly of said first portion and out of thepath of movement of said articles in said chute, said element beingpivotable about its pivot axis to move said first portion to a positionwhich permits the discharge of the lowermost article from said chute andsaid second portion into a position within said chute in which saidsecond portion engages the penultimate article and restrains it duringthe discharge of said lowermost article arrester head means comprising aslide member mounted for vertical sliding movement on a wall of saidchute from a first upper position to a second lower position and alocking element pivotally mounted on said slide member and extendinginto said chute, said locking element being pivotable about its pivotaxis from a first position in which it rests upon the uppermost articlein said stack and maintains said slide member in said first positionthereof to a second position in which it extends along a wall of saidchute, said locking element in said second position thereof and in saidsecond position of said slide member having locking means engaging awall portion of said chute for limiting pivotal movement of said lockingelement out of said second position thereof and said locking element insaid second positions of said locking element and said slide memberbeing engageable with a portion of said closure element for limitingpivotal movement thereof and thereby preventing discharge of an articlefrom said chute.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said wall on which saidslide member is mounted has means forming vertically extending slots andsaid slide mem ber has vertically extending sides slidably received insaid slots and has an arm at the upper portion thereof extending intosaid chute, said locking element being pivotally mounted on said arm.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said locking meanscomprises at least one downwardly opening hook on said locking elementand said wall along which said locking element extends in said secondposition thereof has an opening through which said hook extends and saidlast-mentioned wall has a panel at the lower side of said openingengageable by said hook when said locking element and said slide memberare in said second positions thereof and wherein said locking elementengages said second portion of said closure element when said lockingelement and said slide member are in said second positions thereof.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said locking element has aportion on one side of said pivot axis thereof which extends into saidchute in said first position of said locking element and a flange at theopposite side of said pivot axis thereof, said flange being engageablewith a wall of said chute as said slide member moves downwardly forpivoting said locking element about its pivot axis.

1. In a device for dispensing articles having walls forming a verticalchute for receiving a stack of articles to be dispensed from the bottomportion of said chute, the combination therewith of a bottom closureelement pivotally mounted at the bottom portion of said chute, saidclosure element having a first portion extending into said chute forengaging and restraining the lowermost of said articles and having asecond portion extending upwardly of said first portion and out of thepath of movement of said articles in said chute, said element beingpivotable about its pivot axis to move said first portion to a positionwhich permits the discharge of the lowermost article from said chute andsaid second portion into a position within said chute in which saidsecond portion engages the penultimate article and restrains it duringthe discharge of said lowermost article arrester head means comprising aslide member mounted for vertical sliding movement on a wall of saidchute from a first upper position to a second lower position and alocking element pivotally mounted on said slide member and extendinginto said chute, said locking element being pivotable about its pivotaxis from a first position in which it rests upon the uppermost articlein said stack and maintains said slide member in said first positionthereof to a second position in which it extends along a wall of saidchute, said locking element in said second position thEreof and in saidsecond position of said slide member having locking means engaging awall portion of said chute for limiting pivotal movement of said lockingelement out of said second position thereof and said locking element insaid second positions of said locking element and said slide memberbeing engageable with a portion of said closure element for limitingpivotal movement thereof and thereby preventing discharge of an articlefrom said chute.
 2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said wallon which said slide member is mounted has means forming verticallyextending slots and said slide member has vertically extending sidesslidably received in said slots and has an arm at the upper portionthereof extending into said chute, said locking element being pivotallymounted on said arm.
 3. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidlocking means comprises at least one downwardly opening hook on saidlocking element and said wall along which said locking element extendsin said second position thereof has an opening through which said hookextends and said last-mentioned wall has a panel at the lower side ofsaid opening engageable by said hook when said locking element and saidslide member are in said second positions thereof and wherein saidlocking element engages said second portion of said closure element whensaid locking element and said slide member are in said second positionsthereof.
 4. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lockingelement has a portion on one side of said pivot axis thereof whichextends into said chute in said first position of said locking elementand a flange at the opposite side of said pivot axis thereof, saidflange being engageable with a wall of said chute as said slide membermoves downwardly for pivoting said locking element about its pivot axis.